The Indianapolis journal., 1887-07-04
OBSERVANCE OF THE FOURTH.
The Various Ways in Which Indianapolis Peo-
pie Will Celebrate the Day.

The Fourth of July. like other holidays. has
undergone many changes in its observance.
Where once the gathering of the people in pleas
ant groves to hear the Declaration of Independ-
ence read and the spread-eagle orator detail the
blessings of free government, games, dances and
in instance two prize-fehts, take preced-
ence The crowds go to the woods on public ex-
cursions, but the reader and orator have lost
to round off the Fourth with their patriotic out
bursts. In the country districts they still have
an opportunity to denounce monarchs and extol
liberty yet even there the customs of the Fourth
have changed to degree, for the barbecue.
which was once an essential has been displaced by
the easier methods of basket picnics AS hol-
iday, however. the day is generally OBJ
served than it was twenty i've years ago. Bus
mess ceases. everybody throws aside care, and
if the picnic does offer attractions the cheap
excursions points of interest never fail to win
the hundreds and thousands who seek wha
peases them best
1t is not now regarded sine qua non to
find crowd in order to enjoy the Fourth. and
from this has ce,ne the custom of private parties
going to the groves gardens and parks. Many
of these small pcnics will be the manner of OBJ
servance by thousands of Indianapolis people.
Two weeks ago every express wagon, carriage
and buggy was engaged for the
of the population will find auieter
enjoyment the several railroads have prepared
carry throngs to attractions at distant points.
Shelbyville will doubtless get the larger quota
OF the excursionists, but the Knights of Labor
are to go to North Indianapolis, and Riverside
Park and Blue River are also to be points of in
teTest
No Fourth would be possible without the fire.
kar and he n md in nj a. nA no
patriots fears arising from police regulations he
will be permitted it is thought to enjoy noisy
holiday TO his hearts content.
''Will the police interfere with the using of
fireworks to-day" asked a Journal reporter of
Superintendent Travis last evening
where combustibles used with care,
will not offer any interference" said the super
intendent. "a great many people have miscon-
strued the order I gave two weeks ago. The
principal purpose in giving it was to prevent the
firing of crackers on the streets two weeks be-
fore the Fourth Ten days ago boys began to
celebrate, and there much complaint
that the order a necessity. Fire works have
always been a part of the Fourth of July. and
the people who use them as they should will not
be molested. Their use by reckless boys or the
streets will be prohibited, but any man who
buys fireworks for his boys to at home need
have no fear of being arrested"
Had it not been for the opposition of the iu-
sur ance men in the Council the ordinance would
have been SUSPENDED from the lst to the 5th of
the month. They declaimed against it, but
after all came within vote of defeat Dealers
In hrecrackers took the alarm early In the season.
and. with the exception of one two firms. none
laid in stocks. There trouble
Saturday sell off the surplus from last year.
One firm that had a large supply left sold
off every pack of crackers and had not sky
rocket left to meet the late demand.
Small stores that a week ago were afraid
display Fourth of July goods yesterday had
crackers, rockets, tcrpedoes, spinning wheels,
Roman candles and spit-devils temptingly dis
played in their windows. Here and there, last
night could be heard the report of the patriots
pistol, the swapping OF crackers and torpedoes,
indicative of no fear of the police.
A few of the church congregations will quietly
celebrate the day. The Golden Reapers, of the
Fourth Presbyterian Church, will give enter
tainment at the church, this evening, and after
the entertainment a moonlight picnic on the
lawn, features of which will be fireworks and
refreshments. The ladies of St Johns Church
will have dinner and supper prepared for their
friends at Masonic Hall, and will have a celebra-
ton in the evening